Foot muff



J. M. BRADY Feb. 11, 1930.

FOOT MUFF Filed OCl.

INVENTOR Jessica .Bradj BY /n/zf/ ATTORNEYS Patented F eb. 11, 1930 sm'rss VJESSICA M.,B\RADY, O15"`VIAM.AROIILEGK,` NEW YORK FOOT Mure `Application filed -October `18. 192B. Serial Io. `313,259.

i l the feet and avoid the necessity of stooping to an uncomfortable posture and manually opening and ,closing the muli, the improvement to be elfected Without any sacrifice of protection to the feet and ankles.

Other Objects will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective View of one form of my improved foot muf; Fig. 2 a vertical transverse section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 a vertical fore and aft section taken through the mud;

Fig. 4 a detail section upon a larger scale, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 a perspective view of a modified form of muft'; and

Fig. 6 a rear view of still another form of muff.

The structure of the form of mud shown in Figs. l to 4 includes a sole 1 formed of a roflat sheet rectangular in shape, and an upper structure secured to the sole. The upper structure is formed by a front sheet 2, a rear sheet 3, both substantially rectangular, and sides, one of which is formed of a single sheet 4 and the other of two sheets 5 and 6. rIhe sides are co-eXtensive with the sole at their lower edges and taper upwardly to conform to the foot and ankle. The sole 1 and the sheets 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are preferably formed of leather which possesses considerable stiffness and is springy under fleXure. Other suitable material may, however, be used.

The lower edges of the front and rear sheets 0r pieces 2 and 3 are stitched to the sole 1 as indicated at 7, and the side piece 4 is stitched to the sole as at 8. The two sections 5 and 6 forming the opposite side have straight vertical inner edges'whose margins overlap as at 9. Both sectlons have their lower edges secured to the sole by stitching it upon the feet.

10, and this stitching extends through both' overlappin G" margins and holds them securely together. Ititching 11 secures the vsides to the front and back pieces. v

The muti1 is proportioned to acconin'iodate both feet of the wearer side by side and eX` tends well above the ankles to afford maxis mum protection and warmth. A soft, comfortable lining 12, preferably of sheepskin, covers the inner surface of the muil', and the upper edge thereof is trimmed with a fur bead 13. The overlapped margins of the side sectonsareleft unsecured from the sole clear to the upper edge of the mud, and define a slit 14 extending along their length. This slit is normally closed by the overlapped man gins and the overlap is ofmaterial width to ensurea good closure, `and also to obtain a good stitched attachment of the lower edges of the over-lappedportions of the side nieces 'l and increase the spring of the niuif structure, for a purpose which will appear presently. The lining 12 is also slit and covers only one of the overlapped margins, and the fur bead 13 is split andrabbeted as at 15 to permit the margins to come close together.

In the use of the muff each foot is readily .inserted by merely prying open the slit 14 with the toe and inserting the foot between the side marginsand into themulf. The slit will be then automatically closed by the natural spring of the leather, the form of the mulf and the additional spring imparted to the overlappedI margins or Hans by their stitching 10to each other' and to the sole. 8

The muif structure is designed to give it the maximum spring for returning the flaps to fully closed position. To remove the feet they are merely forced out by expanding apart the overlapped margins of the side nieces. A

`muff soV designed relieves the wearer of all necessity of stooping and reaching down to manually open and close the muli and work required `for opening and closing the muli' and inserting and removingthe feet. "f

In Fig. 5 is shown another form of my foot mufl" provided with slits 14 and overlapping closure margins or flaps 9 uponboth No manual operation isV sides. The structure of the muff is otherwise the same as that just described.

Still another modification of the muff is shown in Fig. 6. Here the rear piece of the muil. is formed of two sections 3a and 3b which overlap at the center of the back of the muil' and dene a slit 14 and closure margins 9 Y claims. For example, a mui' embodying my invention may be proportioned to receive only7 one foot instead of both feet. In lthat case a pair of muffs would be worn and the feet would .be free for movement independently of each other. This would enable the wearer to drive an automobile and operate the foot levers.

A muti constructed in accordance with my invention may be made much higher than it is customary to make foot muffs at present, so that it will afford adequate leg protection. Mufs requiring fastening means are usually made lower than is really desirable in order to avoid the annoyance of manipulating a number of fastening elements. My self-closing muf is free from this limitation and may be made as high as desired.

What I claim is:

l. A foot'muif comprising a sole; and a springy leather upper structure stitched to the sole, formed to enclose the feet and ankles, and formed with a side slit extending downwardly from its upper edge to the sole to permit the insertion of the feet into the mu, the margins along the slit being overlapped and the overlapped portions being stitched to the sole along their lower edges, whereby i the slit will be selfclosing.

2. A foot mulil formed of springy material and comprising a sole; and an upper structure secured to the sole, formed to enclose the feet and ankles, and formed with a slit eX- tending downwardly from its upper edge to the sole to permit the insertion of the feet into the muff, the margins of the slit being overlapped and the overlapped portions being secured to the sole along their lower edges, whereby the slit will be self-closing.

3. A foot muff formed of springy material and comprising a sole; an upper structure secured to the sole, formed to enclose the feet and ankles, and formed with a pair of slits at opposite sides thereof extending downward from its upper edge tothe sole for the insertion of the feet into the muli?, the margins along the slits being overlapped and the overlapped portions being secured along "i their lower edges to the sole.

4. A foot muil' comprising a sole; and an upper structure of springy material secured to the sole, the two sides thereof being formed with slits extending downward from their upper edges to the sole to permit of the insertion of a foot into the mud through the side openings, the marginal portions of the sides along the slits being overlapped and secured along their lower edges to the sole.

5. A foot muff comprising a sole; and a stii', high upper structure secured to the sole and including a receding front wall conforming substantially to the front contour of the foot and ankle, anupstanding rear wall and a pair of upstanding side walls, each of said upstanding side walls being formed with an unobstructed, normallyy closed long slit, eX- tending downward from its upper edge, the free edges of said slits being yieldable in wardly and outwardly under lateral pressure to permit a foot to be passed through either slit directly into and out of the muff merely by lateral movement, and the slitted walls being springy to maintain them normally upright and render said slits'self-closing.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature.

JESSICAlVI. BRADY. 

